POLICE across South Wales were alerted to hundreds of suspected terrorist packages in the past year, figures have revealed.

Statistics obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows 230 packages were investigated by police since January 1, 2010.

The figures also confirm that six of these were recorded on public transport.

But when asked to clarify where each incident took place, a spokeswoman for South Wales Police said the information was confidential and could aid the threat of terrorism from “violent extremists”.

She said: “The threat of terrorism cannot be ignored. The UK faces a sustained threat from violent extremists.

“Since 2006, the Government have published the threat level, based upon current intelligence.”

The threat remained at “severe”, the second highest level, and was raised to “critical” in periods in 2006 and 2007.

In July 2009, it was reduced to “substantial”.

The spokeswoman said: “It should be recognised that the international security landscape is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Modern-day policing is intelligence led, and intelligence changes on a day-to-day basis.

“To confirm or deny whether any other information is held regarding bomb threats would disclose the levels of police activity and confirm that ongoing investigations are, or are not, taking place.

“This would consequently be detrimental to our ability to be able to deal with the ongoing terrorist threat we face.”

She added that identifying locations of operations that are taking place would lead terrorists to go “underground”, destroying evidence and evading the area being investigated.

“To confirm or deny that any information was held would enable offenders to map across the country where police investigations are increased.

“This would help them to identify areas that are more vulnerable to terrorist activity and would demonstrate the capabilities and capacities each force has for counter-terrorism.

“To release such information would be a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public.”